Tempers flare as MH370 search enters 12th day

World / 19 March 2014, 08:56am

A relative of a passenger aboard Flight MH370 poses a question to officials from Malaysia Airlines during the company's briefing to family members at a hotel in Beijing on March 19, 2014. Picture: Kim Kyung-Hoon

Kuala Lumpur - Tempers flared on Wednesday among Chinese relatives of passengers aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, as frustration grew with what one called the airline's “shameful role” and the search for the plane entered its 12th day.

“We do not have any other way of dealing with this other than to be angry and to cry. Your way of dealing with it is either lying or playing a shameful role,” one relative shouted, waving his arms furiously at a representative from the airline.

The angry exchanges took place at a daily meeting between company officials and family members at a hotel in Beijing, as multinational efforts have failed to find any trace of the plane which had 153 Chinese people aboard.

“Look what we have been talking about today - trivial matters,” the man shouted angrily. “What are we coming here for? We just want to know where our relatives are and where the plane is.”

The questioning from relatives was briefly interrupted as a noisy row erupted at one of the airline's administration desks.

A woman marched to the front of the hall demanding to know why she had to present her marriage certificate to prove her husband was on the plane, in order to get a room at the hotel.

“My husband was on board, and our relatives have had nowhere to stay for two days!” the woman shouted as other family members encouraged her to confront the airline official.

Amid angry exchanges, one of her male relatives lunged aggressively at the neck of a man he believed to be an airline administrator, and another shouted: “What sort of person would pretend that their husband is on board the plane?” - AFP